Senate panel to send Binay's invitation this week

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will formally invite Vice President Jejomar Binay this week to the investigation of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building.

Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, the committee chair, said Binay will be invited to the hearing so he can answer allegations that he profited from the construction of the controversial building and from other projects in Makati.

"We are going to issue the invitation within this week. We just have to confer kung anong date available 'yung mga senators," Guingona said.

Binay's camp earlier said that the vice president may attend the Senate probe if the mother Blue Ribbon Committee will invite him.

He has refused to attend the hearings held by the Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee, believing that Sens. Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV have prejudged him.

Guingona said he will invite Binay to the probe to avoid a dispute between the office of the vice president, the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Supreme Court, the possible last resort of Binay.

"My only reason for stepping in is to avoid the clash of institutions, so that we can make sure that everything, as much as possible, can go on smoothly," he said.

Last week, Guingona assured Binay that the Blue Ribbon Committee will give him fair treatment, respect and opportunity to answer the accusations he is facing.

Binay's son, Makati City Mayor Erwin Binay, had questioned the jurisdiction of the Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee to conduct the investigation, but it was junked for lack of merit.

Guingona stands by that the sub-committee has all the powers of the mother committee.